Bracelet structure and method of making the same



Nov. 21, 1939.

K. FAssNAcHT r-:r AL

BRACELET STRUCTURE AND METHOD 0F MAKING THE SAME Filed May 20, 1939 Patented Nov. 21, 1939 rg OFFICE),

BRACELET STRUCTURE AND METHOD F MAKING THE SAME Karl Fassnacht, Cranston, R. I., and Lester W. Ballon, Attleboro, Mass., assignors to D. E. Makepeace Co., Attleboro, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 20, 1939, Serial No. 274,722

Claims.

` assembled to form the bracelet.

Ano-ther object of the invention is the provision of a bracelet section of arcuate form comprising telescoping channel shaped members so constructed and arranged as to be capable of being `assembled readily in opposed intertting relation, with the parts retained in assembled relation by friotional engagement of the upstanding side edge portions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bracelet section comprising intertting members each having upstanding edge portions interiitting together, the edge portions of one of said members being serrated throughout to permit longitudinal iiexing of the member without distorticn whereby it may be inserted into the curved shape of the other member from substantially straight stock and the parts retained in assembled relation through engagement of the upstanding edges. A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of forming braceletr sections of this character by so constructing the parts as to permit the insertion of a substantially straight channel shaped lelement into tele- 3'5 scoping relation with a permanently curved channel shaped member without distortion of either of the members.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improved details of construction o and novel arrangements of the parts as well as Various improved steps and arrangements of steps in forming and assembling the same as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description Fig. 3 is al perspective viewV of a portion of the other member adapted for assembly with the member shown in Fig. 2 for forming the completed bracelet section,

Fig. i is a perspective view showing the mam' 5 ner of assembling the members shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in forming a complete bracelet section,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. v6 is an enlarged sectional View takenfl through the'section 3, substantially alongwthe line 6 6 of Fig. 1, and showing the keeper element for receiving the catch,

Fig. 7 is'an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through the hinge connection of the vsec-15 tions, and showing themembers in their assembled relation, and, l

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional4 View of a slightly modified form of bracelet section.

In the embodiment of the invention' illustrated '20 in Figs. 1 to '7 of the drawing; l designates the completed1 bracelet vwhich may be formed from two or more longitudinally curved sections and which in the present embodiment consists of two l arcuate sections 2 and 3 which are hingedly con- "25 nected together as indicated at l and provided with fastening means for detachably Aconnecting the ends of the bracelet sections together.

The fasteningmeans employed for connecting Athe ends of the bracelet sections'together may 30 be any `suitable or desiredform of hinge structures and detachable connecting means. As shown herein they are separate elements adapted tube-fitted Within ends of the sections after their formation and held in place within the seo- 35 tion ends in any desired manner, as by means of solder. The particular means 'shown herein `for connecting end portions` of the sections 2 and 3 comprise plates 5 and 6, insertiblewithin the `free ends of theA sections, theplate 5 lhaving a 40 spring'catch'l provided with a boss 8, and the plate 6 -having an upstanding, portion serving as a keeper and providedwith' catch receiving 'opening 9 for receiving the catch 1 to holdl the section ends detachably connected. T

Each bracelet section is lformed of separate members l0 and l2 which may Aeach be iirst shaped into substantially its iinal form and the members then telescoped one into the other in making the: section. The` member I8 may be l50 formed by drawing, rolling or otherwise shaping a piece ofmetal stock to provide a b-ase portion i3 having opposite rsides I4 located in upstanding relation with a portion of the base, and each side being' provided with an 'inturnedilangev IEI-ex- '55' tending inwardly from the upstanding side and towards the opposite upstanding side. The inturned flanges I are preferably each equally spaced from the base I3 so as to be located in 5 substantial opposition with each other throughout their extents. The member I9 may be of a substantially rigid construction throughout its extent, being substantially permanently curved throughout into the form desired to provide a 10 bracelet section of a character appropriate for fitting about a portion of the wrist of the wearer, and is preferably of sufficiently heavy and rigid material to retain its shape and resist changes in shape or distortion under the usual conditions of use.

The member I2 may be formed from flat stock in any suitable or desired manner as by cutting, stamping or the like, to serrate the edges, form teeth I B separated by recesses I1, and provide surface ornamentation I8 when desired. The teeth I4 on opposite side edges are then bent over to provide opposed upstanding toothed edges on opposite sides of the body portion I9 of the member. The member I2 upon completion of the ,Q5 above operation may be slightly curved longitudinally of its extent or may be in the form of a substantially straight plate longitudinally of its extent and is capable of longitudinal flexing to a substantial degree without distortion of its A:lo parts by reason of the serrations formed in the upstanding edges. The member I2 may also be formed of somewhat lighter material than the member I0 to facilitate the insertion of the member I2 into the channel of the substantially rigid member Ill. i

The recesses I1 formed in the upstanding side edges of the member I2 are preferably of sufcient depth to terminate at points upon or closely .adjacent to the base I9, whereby the base portion I9 is rendered capable of longitudinal exing to the degree required for its insertion into the permanently curved member I0 without effecting yany substantial distortion of the base portion I9. The upstanding teeth I6 forming the upstanding side edges of the member I2 are preferably of a height slightly less than the radial distance separating the base I3 from the inturned flanges I5 of the member I0 whereby the parts may be manipulated to insert the member l2 within the channel of the member I0 with the teeth I6 extending towards and terminating closely adjacent to the outer curved face of the base I3 without allowing any substantial movement of the members I0 and I2 towards and from each other radially of their longitudinal curvature when located in assembled relation.

In forming bracelet sections from the members I0 and I2, the substantially permanently shaped material from which the members III are obtained may be made initially or cut to the length desired for the completed section. A suitable length may then be provided of the member I2 corresponding with that of the member I0, and one end of the member I2 inserted within the channel of the member I0 with the ornamental face I8 of the base I9 located outwardly radially of the curve of the member I0. The member I2 is then forced into the channel of the member I0 by pressure exerted upon the opposed base areas I3 and I9 so as to position the member I2 beneath the inturned flanges I5 with the ends of the members I0 and I2 corresponding sub- ,stantially with each other, after the manner indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

By reason of the relative rigidity of the member I0 and the serrations formed in the edges of the member I2, the member I2 adapts itself readily to the curve of the member I0 and is held in position therein by frictional engagement of the upstanding side edges of the members.

After forming bracelet sections as above described, the sections may be hingedly connected together by any suitable means, which in the present form are shown as comprising hinge elements 20, each having oppositely positioned plates 22 connected by a hinge 2|. As shown, the hinge plates 22 are each inserted in one end of a bracelet section to which they may be permanently connected by a layer of solder, as indicated at 23.

In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing, a member 26, corresponding substantially with the member I0 previously described, is formed with a transversely rounded base 21 and upstanding inwardly directed transversely curved sides 28. A member 3U, corresponding with the member I2 previously described, is formed with a base 3| and transversely curved serrated sides 32. After formation of the members 26 and 30 as above described, the member 39 is inserted in the channel of the member 26, after the manner described in connection with that form of the invention shown in Figs. l to '7 inclusive, and the bracelet sections may be forced into telescoping relation with each other in a manner similar to that previously described. The completed bracelet sections thus formed having the cross sectional shape as shown in Fig. 8 or similar thereto may be connected to- Agether for forming bracelets by means of suitable 'hinge connections and catch and keeper structures suitably shaped to fit within and be secured to the ends of the section after the manner more particularly shown in connection with the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawing.

In forming the member I2 the recesses I1 of the serrated edges may be of any suitable or desired shape,-rectangular, triangular or with curved sides to form differently shaped teeth I6 depending upon the shape of teeth or the recesses desired, it being necessary only that the recesses be suicient in number and suitably spaced from each other to permit the desired degree of longitudinal flexibility and that the teeth be adapted for frictional engagement with contiguous surfaces of the member I9.

What we claim is:

1. A bracelet structure comprising, two or more hingedly connected longitudinally curved sections, each of which is made up of telescoping members, one of said members having upstanding side edges provided with inwardly directed flanges, the other member being longitudinally slidable within the upstandingside walls of said first named member and having upstanding` lateral edge portions extending inwardly towards the body portion of said first member and provided with serrations extending inwardly from the edges thereof to a depth sufficient to permit longitudinal flexing of the member without distortion.

2. A bracelet section comprisingv a longitudinally curved member having oppositely posi tioned upstanding side walls extending substantially throughout its length and inwardly directed flanges carried by said side walls, and a second member fitting within said first member and having' upstanding serrated lateral edges oppositely directed relative to the side walls of said first member and engaging frictionally the inner faces of the side walls of sa-.id rst member to resist sliding movement of said members relative to each other and maintain said second member in substantial engagement with the inwardly directed anges of said rst member, the serrations formed in the upstanding lateral edges of said second member extending inwardly throughout a substantial portion of the upstanding lateral edges to permit longitudinal ilexing of said second member without distortion.

3. A bracelet structure comprising twoor more sections hingedly connected together and each comprising inner and outer longitudinally curved members of channel shaped cross section arranged in telescoping relation with the upstanding side edges of each member extending towards the other member, and the upstanding side edges of the outer member intertting within the upstanding side edges of the inner member, the upstanding side edges of said outer member being provided with serrations oi a number and depth sucient to permit longitudinal flexing of the member without distortion and the upstanding side edges of said inner member being each provided with an inwardly directed flange engaging the side edges of the outer face of said outer member.

4. In a bracelet structure comprising two or more arcuate sections hingedly connected together and each section having inner and outer members, said inner member being permanently curved longitudinally of its extent and having outwardly directed upstanding lateral edge portions provided with inturned flanges, said outer member having upstanding edge portions provided with serrations of a depth sufiicient to permit flexing of the member whereby it may be telescoped within said longitudinally curved inner member with its upstanding serrated edges eX- tending inwardly of the curve of said inner member and located within and in opposed relation with the upstanding` lateral edges of said inner member without-distortion of said outer member in assuming the longitudinal curvature of said inner member.

5. The method of making longitudinally curved bracelet sections which comprises, shaping metal stock to form a channel shaped member of substantially rigid construction having a longitudinally curved body portion and upstanding side edges provided with inturned anges substantially uniformly spaced from the body portion, shaping metal stock to form a longitudinally exible member having upstanding serrated edge portions, and inserting said longitudinally flexible member within the channel of said first named f member by endwise movement of the members with the upstanding edge portion thereof extending .towards the body portion of said rst named member. i

KARL FASSNACHT.

LESTER W. BALLOU. 

